Vibration-free and low-vibration piling

Piling without nuisance to animals and visitors

Funderingstechnieken De Coogh provided the piling for the new Lions' enclosure at ARTIS. To prevent inconvenience to animals and visitors, special tubular piles were used for this.

The Zaandam-based company has been a specialist in the construction and repair of foundations, piling, jacking and basement construction for thirty-five years. Edwin de Nijs took over the company five years ago, together with his wife, from his parents-in-law. Some forty people work for the company every day. De Nijs: "We work both directly for individuals and as subcontractors for contractors, real estate developers, municipalities and housing corporations. We often do business with the main contractor for the project at ARTIS, Van Wijnen, and have good mutual contact. Van Wijnen made a specific request in connection with the special location and the client's wishes. And for us, of course, this is a fun project to work on."

As little vibration as possible

To install the piles, De Coogh used two systems: a low-vibration driven steel tubular pile and a vibration-free bolted steel tubular pile. These systems are used in environments where vibrations cause nuisance. "In this case for the animals and visitors, but also because piles had to be placed right next to a technical area. And you don't want vibration to cause interference there. In this case, the environment didn't even notice that we were working there."

The company carried out the project in two phases: the first phase involved the low-vibration installation of ten piles in a week and a half, while phase two involved the low-vibration installation of another sixty piles in three weeks. "Then the contractor could get to work on the concrete work on our piles, on which the vision work will come. All our work is underground, but it is very important: if we don't do it right, everything collapses."